What the rabbi said
Jerusalem Post - January 24, 2006
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1167467798122&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
Sir, - Readers of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency's recent series on clergy sexual abuse may have been misled by the report's assertion that the meaning of words spoken by a respected rabbinic authority at last year's Agudath Israel of America national convention is, as the article put it, "open to interpretation." The rabbinic authority, the article asserted, admitted "that haredim are indeed guilty of sweeping things under the carpet."
The writer of the series has acknowledged to me that he had not at the time listened to a recording of the speech.
Rabbi Salomon's words, however, could not have been clearer. He pointed out how some people like to accuse the haredi community of "sweeping things under the carpet." They are right, he went on to explain, but not in the way they mean. "Do they know how many perpetrators" of sins against others "have been dealt with?" No, he averred, because when actions are taken against individuals who have proven themselves untrustworthy, Orthodox leaders do not trumpet their actions. And even as they take what steps are necessary to protect others, he added, they also seek to protect human dignity.
Moreover, Rabbi Salomon declared that when crimes are asserted but not proven, Jews must be guided not by a mob mentality but by the Torah.
The JTA article may well be right that "several Web site and blog contributors" chose to interpret Rabbi Salomon's remarks as an admission that "haredi officials often look the other way when clergy sex abuse takes place in their midst." But that says something only about those Web site and blog contributors, and nothing at all about what Rabbi Salomon actually said.
RABBI AVI SHAFRAN
Director of Public Affairs
Agudath Israel of America
EVERY SIGNATURE MATTERS - THIS BILL MUST PASS!
CLICK - GOAL - 100,000 NEW SIGNATURES! 75,000 SIGNATURES HAVE ALREADY BEEN SUBMITTED TO GOVERNOR CUOMO!
EFF Urges Court to Block Dragnet Subpoenas Targeting Online Commenters
CLICK! For the full motion to quash: http://www.eff.org/files/filenode/hersh_v_cohen/UOJ-motiontoquashmemo.pdf
78 comments:
I HEARD ANOTHER CHILD IS COMING FORWARD. HE WAS MOLESTED IN KOLKO OFFICE.
IT LOOKS LIKE THE PARENTS ARE GOING TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY OFFICE.
THE QUESTION IS DO I BELIEVE KOLKO MESSED AROUND.YES I DO. I HAVE A FRIEND ON AVE K IN FLATBUSH THAT TOOK HIS SON OUT END OF 2006 BECAUSE KOLKO TOUCHED HIM. I ONLY FEEL SORRY FOR ALL THE VICTIMS THAT DON'T TALK ABOUT IT.MANY DOCOTRS SAY THE BEST REFUAH IS TO TALK ABOUT IT. WHEN I CHILD HOLDS IT IN THEY WILL SUFFER AS THEY GET OLDER.
I ALSO HEARD KOLKO HAS A HEARING JAN 24,2007.
I HOPE THEY HANG HIM LIKE SADAM. HE IS A SICK MAN.
GOBBLE, GOBBLE, GOBBLE SHAFRAN!
to uoj!
why dont you post a list of names and phone numbers of all these self appointed rabbonim so that whenever somone has a few extra minutes give one of them a call anonymously to ask them what had they ever done to protect our kids from these evil monsters and if they say you are right but i am unable to do anything about it then tell them to please step down i think it might help to put some pressure on the disaster called AGUDAH i promise you that the imrei emes of ger who tonight is his father the sfas emes yurtzeit is turning over in his grave on the situation of agudah 2007
Avi Shafran -
You can't even imagine how much pain your lies are causing the sex abuse victims and their families.
The names are piling up...Mondrowitz...Weinberg...Lanner...Kolko....Nussbaum....Eiseman....Lazerowitz...There are more known names, and there are even more names who we don't even know.
Did you read Rabbi Yaakov Horowitz's columns on sex abuse. Of his shiva visits to the families of suicide victims?
Are you aware of the Jewish institution in Mt. Vernon that treats abuse victims, where 80 percent of them were sexually abused?
Do you have a Jewish heart?
SHA! Fe! How dare u mention the Imrei Emes and his father with regard to these scandals!? Don't u know that u r being mevaze Ger and the great rebbe himself with your talk. Who cares if its true? If it dosn't meen kovod and power to the dynasty then M'tur nisht redden. To hell with the dozens of gerrer boyz who have been knowingly molested for years! Whats a bit of roadkill to the big machine?
The following is a note comes from The Awareness Center's daily newsletter. I thought it was important to share here.
*******
We all should thank Rabbi Shafran for helping to make Israelis aware of the JTA series on clergy sexual abuse. To this date I don't believe any of the Israeli newspapers or magazines have published the series.
The Awareness Center wants to encourage everyone to contact all of the Israeli newspapers and encourage them to publish the entire JTA series "Reining in Abuse" (in both English and Hebrew publications).
It's time for all of us to face the reality of how cases of sexual violence have been mishandled and covered up in all movements of Judaism (Renewal, Reconstructionist, Traditional, Reform, Conservative, Orthodox).
One of the Awareness Center's goals is to prevent one more individual from becoming the next victim of a sex crime. The only way things will ever change is by awareness, education and implementation of new policies.
We all must demand that our rabbis report all cases of SUSPECTED sexual violence to law enforcement instead of handling such cases on their own.
To this day I have not met one rabbi who has any training in collecting forensic evidence or in how to conduct a victim sensitive interview. Until this changes, these sort of cases NEED to be handled by those with the proper education, experience and knowledge. These are not cases for a synagogue, school, camp or beit din to be handling!
Vicki Polin, MA, ATR, LCPC - Executive Director
The Awareness Center, Inc.
(Jewish Coalition Against Sexual Abuse/Assault)
P.O. Box 65273, Baltimore, MD 21209
www.theawarenesscenter.org
443-857-5560
UOJ, I have tried posting Avi Shafran's home telephone number before but you haven't allowed it through. I am appealing to you to change your mind because it is listed in a publicly accessible database and Shafran is a public figure who makes outrageous statements that he should have to answer for.
I would expect the public to not place silly crank calls but to ask Shafran hard hitting questions, like why he systematically withholds any display of sympathy for abuse victims with a kaltkeit that Yidden are not known for.
Do I have your go ahead to post it?
"shiva visits to the families of suicide victims"
That's terrible. I wasn't aware of any suicides besides a victim of Rabbi Ephraim Bryks. Does anyone have a rough figure of how many suicides there are out there? I do know of one death in a Boro Park mishpoche that was very suspicious. A story was put out that was obviously baloney but no one pressed the issue because it was too painful for relatives.
"RABBI AVI SHAFRAN
Director of Public Affairs
Agudath Israel of America"
More like Dreck-ter of Public LIES
The Agudah is acting like a cornered rat. They will say anything to get out of the bad spotlight. Maybe they can fool some of the freye, but their own crowd sees right through their sheker.
Signed a talmid of R' Shmuel Berenbaum (who never goes to the joke fresser convention)
In memory of the Sfas Emes on his yahrtzeit we should all read the Wall Street Journal and fress a good breakfast.
http://www.tsofar.com/zofar/mashtap/show.asp?id=7887
Yo Shafran, can you send a little Agudah style "human dignity" my way?
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21113898-2703,00.html
ISRAEL'S President, Moshe Katsav, was expected to resign last night before being charged with rape, which could lead to him being jailed for at least 16 years.
Attorney-General Menachem Mazuz was due to file the indictment late yesterday after announcing that he would proceed with a series of charges against Mr Katsav.
In addition to one count of rape, Mr Katsav was expected to be charged with sexual harassment, obstruction of justice, fraud and breach of trust.
Under Israeli law, the charges will be formalised only after Mr Katsav is granted a hearing before the Attorney-General, who then has the discretion to amend the charge sheet.
However, Israeli officials said it was unlikely that Mr Mazuz would change his mind on grounds for the prosecution.
Would-be candidates were jockeying to replace Mr Katsav last night in what is largely a figurehead role as Israeli head of state. Among them was Deputy Premier and former prime minister Shimon Peres, who lost to Mr Katsav in the 2000 presidential race.
Mr Katsav is accused of sexually assaulting four women, three of them former employees of the president's residence and a fourth who worked with him at the Ministry for Tourism in the late 1990s.
The rape charge stems from a complaint made by the former Tourism Ministry employee.
She was one of eight women who made allegations against Mr Katsav during a lengthy police investigation last year.
Mr Katsav has been charged with exploiting his status as an employer to have sex with one of the three women who worked at the President's home and sexually harassing the other two.
The President has maintained his innocence.
He has labelled his accusers McCarthyists, in reference to the Americans pursued by the anti-communist senator Joseph McCarthy in the1950s.
(NOTE: EVERYTIME IT SAYS ROSH YESHIVAH JUST ADD THE WORDS YISROEL BELSKY) ENJOY!
The Evolution of a Halacha: Making Your Bed
Many years ago, in a far away country, there was a well-known rabbi who was
consulted on all sorts of matters relating to the Jewish people. His wise
counsel was sought from people of all walks of life, and the community at
large accepted his decisions, as they understood that his rulings and
pronouncements were divinely inspired.
So when one time he met with some parents of his students, and a few mothers
complained that their children were not making their beds, he assured them
that he would deal with the matter. That week, in his public address to his
students, he mentioned that the students should always make sure to make
their beds in the morning.
When the person transcribing the speech wrote up his review of the talk, he
made sure to emphasize the rabbi's intention. He wrote, "The Rosh Yeshiva
today ruled that one is m'chuyav to make his bed in the morning." Word
spread fast. The halacha had been established: One was obligated to make
their bed.
Later that day, someone came to the Rosh Yeshiva and asked, "I don't have
time to make my bed before I go to davening. By the time I get back my
mother is gone for the day so she doesn't think I make my bed, and isn't
pleased. What should I do?" After hearing the answer that was given, the
halacha was suitably amended to say that the bed should be made as soon as
one gets up. "One is m'chuyav to make his bed in the morning, as soon as he
gets up."
The next day, he was approached by a bochur that wanted to know, "When you
said 'as soon as he gets up', do you mean immediately - right when one steps
out of the bed - or is one allowed some time first?
So they added to the text: "One is m'chuyav to make his bed in the morning,
soon after he gets up."
"How long soon after?" he was immediately asked. "How much time exactly?"
"10-15 minutes? ", he replied, figuring that's a reasonable amount of time.
And so it was added: "One is m'chuyav to make his bed in the morning, within
10-15 minutes from when he gets up." The bochurim found this to be a
satisfactory resolution, but unsurprisingly, it resulted in some bochurim
insisting that it should be made by 10 minutes, and others saying it was
fine to wait even 15 minutes. After some time, they settled on an unofficial
resolution by considering 10 minutes to be the first zman, and 15 minutes
the second zman.
Things went along smoothly until one day a bochur came over and explained to
him a problem he had run into. "My roommate doesn't like the way I make my
bed! He claims it's not really made!" "What do you mean?", asked the Rosh
Yeshiva. "Well, he claims that for a bed to be considered 'made' the pillow
needs to be on top and the sides need to be even or tucked in, and I just
lay out the cover on top, covering everything, however it comes out. What
should I do?" The Rosh Yeshiva mulled this over for a while, and replied:
You're allowed to make it however your family does it. What's acceptable to
your mother (or father) is acceptable here. Hakol k'minhago. An addition was
added to the halacha: "One is m'chuyav to make his bed in the morning,
within 10-15 minutes from when he gets up. The manner of making the bed
should be done according to one's established minhag."
(Later that week when the bochurim went home for the weekend, many parents
were somewhat confused when they were asked by their sons, "What is the
minhag of our family of how to make our beds?", but they figured it was all
part of the tremendous spiritual growth they could see in their young bnei
torah.)
One morning a few weeks later, as shacharis was beginning, the Rosh Yeshiva
was notified about an argument that had broken out between 2 bochurim.
Approaching their room, he heard loud shouting through the closed door. As
he entered, he found one of the bochurim vehemently yelling at the other.
Seeing him come in, the young man turned to him and exclaimed loudly,
"Rebbe! I'm so glad you're here! I tried to get him to make his bed but he
wouldn't listen! He just ignored me, and now it's 5 minutes after the zman,
and look - his bed is still not made!"
Before the Rosh Yeshiva had a chance to respond, the other bochur quickly
spoke up in his defense, "That's not true. I only got out of bed 2 minutes
ago! I still have 8 minutes until the zman!"
"Yes, he only got out of bed 2 minutes ago. But he woke up 20 minutes ago!
That means he should have made his bed 10 minutes ago!"
It was clear that there needed to be some clarification: When the psak was
issued that a bed must be made 10-15 minutes after getting up, did 'after
getting up' mean after waking up ('m'sha'as kumuso') or did it mean after
getting out of bed ('m'sha'as yitziaso')? At this point a small crowd had
gathered around the room and a vociferous discussion had broken out.
Everyone started buzzing, talking, sharing their thoughts of why it meant
this interpretation and not the other one. Realizing what was happening, the
Rosh Yeshiva put an abrupt stop to it all by loudly demanding that everyone
should immediately go to davening and they would deal with it later on.
By lunchtime that day the Rosh Yeshiva had still not addressed the burning
issue and a fierce debate had already broken out in the halls of the
yeshiva. Even the rabbeim had gotten involved. Some felt that the halacha
had to mean from when a person got out of bed, because as they explained,
"if it meant 'from when he woke up' then the first thing he would have to do
upon awaking would be to look at his clock and remember the time. But this
can't be, because we all know that the first thing a person must do when he
wakes up is say 'modeh ani'. Therefore it must mean 'from when he gets out
of bed'." In spite of this convincing logic others still held it was better
to be machmir and go by from when a person wakes up and not to wait unti he
gets out of bed. They pointed out that all that was needed to avoid th
above-mentioned conflict was to first say modeh ani and then subtract 1
seconds from whenever he first looks at the clock. "But not all clock have
second hands on them," countered the first opinion, "and besides, it is too
easy to forget the exact time including the seconds." The machmirim had a
ready response: "Firstly, someone who cares about the halacha properly can
make sure to have a clock with seconds on it, and secondly, he should also
have a paper and pen next to his clock so he can mark down the proper time,
in order to avoid the chance of forgetting it."
Seeing that positions had already been staked out in this dispute, the Rosh
Yeshiva decided not to voice his own opinion and instead told everyone to go
by whatever their rebbe held.
Unfortunately, this had the effect of causing a lot of machlokes in the
school as some people didn't agree with their rabbeim, and resented being
forced out of their beds sooner than they preferred. The problems were soon
settled when a young illuy came up with an ingenious solution. He pointed
out that even though someone had woken up, if they had in mind that they
were sleeping it was like they actually were, since 'machshava k'ma'ase'.
Although his reasoning was roundly rejected by many others, it satisfied
those lazier bochurim and they let the matter slide. No one was much
surprised at their reaction, as these sorts of students had already
demonstrated their laxity of the halacha when it was realized that they were
deliberately getting dressed while still sitting in their bed, in order to
give themselves more time until the zman of 'when you get up' would commence
(according to the shita of m'sha'as yitziaso).
For a brief while the yeshiva. had some complaints from bochurim who wanted
to switch rooms because their roommates were not keeping what they felt was
the right zman for making their beds. Already very disturbed by the problems
that the previous issue had caused and not wanting to cause any more
machlokes in the yeshiva, the Rosh Yeshiva wisely dealt with the problem by
declaring that if anyone was concerned about another not making the zman,
they were allowed to make the other persons bed for them, as long as the
first one had da'as that the other would be yotzei for himself. He also said
that the person making the bed didn't have to specific da'as because
obviously if he was making it he had da'as to do such a thing. Despite that,
it wasn't uncommon to hear people loudly declaring, "Have in mind to be
yotzei so-and-so when making his bed!"
Some months after the initial psak was issued, an enterprising bochur
started selling a unique clock that had a special alarm. The alarm would
wake you up, and when you pushed the right button it would turn off and ring
9 minutes later to remind you that you had 1 minute left to make your bed.
He actually also made a second one that gave you 14 minutes instead of 9,
but no one bought it since they felt it was better not to be meikel.
Another issue that the yeshiva. had to resolve was that according to the
opinions that one must make their beds from when they first woke up, what
was to be done if someone fell asleep again shortly after waking up? After
much learned discussion it was decided that falling back asleep wasn't a
problem, and the zman only started after the real, final waking up. This was
derived from the situation of if one woke up in the middle of the night: Was
he then obligated to make his bed shortly after? For a brief time, some
people in the yeshiva. began to follow this custom. But when the Rosh
Yeshiva ruled that it wasn't necessary, they understood from that that the
zman only began after the last, real waking up.
These events all occurred many, many years ago, and boruch hashem nowadays
it isn't as heated an issue as it once was. Everyone understands and accepts
the principles of eilu v'eilu divrei Elokim chaim, minhag avoseinu
b'yadeinu, ba'al nefesh yachmir, and shomer p'saim hashem. Each person has a
tradition or chumra that he's entitled to follow. In addition, there have
been many wonderful books written on this subject, most recently Artscroll's
splendid translation of Hilchos Ish U'Mitoso, which sheds much light on this
subject for the average layman (also available in a laminated, newly
type-set, pocket edition that one can keep by their bed!). However, legend
has it that if you go to this yeshiva and poke in on some of the rooms,
you'll still occasionally find a bochur here and there that tries to be
extra zahir in this inyan and - even on a cold winter night - will sleep on
top of his carefully made blanket so that he never will - chas v'chalila! -
find his bed unmade past the proper zman!
To receive a laminated, large print edition of the special tefila to say
before making your bed, please send a fax to 1800-BE-ZAHIR with your proper
mailing address and we will be glad to send you one free of charge. "
Please do not read this publication in untzniyusdik places, before you
daven, during chazaras hashatz, in the middle of leining, during shiur or
seder, while operating heavy machinery, on the Internet, in the mikva, or
while under the influence of da'as torah.
This publication is not intended to be used as a guide to practical halacha.
All halachic questions should be directed to your local ultra-orthodox
halachic authority."
You know how I know margolis so well? It take a Magyar to know a Magyar!
Is Yudi's court hearing today open to the public?
From the Yated online:
Dei'ah veDibur - Information & Insight - NEWS
HaRav Aharon Leib Shteinman, local rabbonim and roshei yeshivos were on
hand at a gathering for hundreds of avreichim and bnei Torah in Beitar
Illit last Thursday, 21 Teves, to strengthen standards of modesty. The
event followed a number of similar gatherings in other locations in
Eretz Yisroel. Funding for the event was arranged by Mayor Rabbi
Yitzchok Pindrus and his office director, Rabbi Yosef Shetreet.
Speeches were given by HaRav Boruch Shapira, a ram at Yeshivas Kol Torah
Letzei'irim, the moro de'asra HaRav Aviezer Tewfik and HaRav Tzvi
Ordentlicht, HaRav Shalom Cohen, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivat Porat Yosef,
HaRav Aviezer Piltz, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Tushiyoh Tifrach, HaRav
Menachem Klein, the Gavad of Ungvar, and HaRav Shteinman shlita.
After reading aloud a letter of support from HaRav Nissim Karelitz,
HaRav Tzvi Braverman recited the decisions of the gathering.
1. There are families that do not meet modesty standards and when the
time comes to register their children in educational institutions they
encounter difficulties getting accepted at the educational institutions
and then they turn to Vaadas HaRabbonim LeInyonei Chinuch with various
pledges. We hereby declare in the name of Vaadas HaRabbonim that all of
these families must start conforming now at the beginning of the year
rather than crying out after the fact, for those who do not conform to
the directives of rabboseinu gedolei Yisroel forfeit their right to make
demands of the city's educational institutions.
2. The gathering calls on clothing stores not to sell clothes that do
not conform to the instructions issued by the rabbonim. Doing so
constitutes an act of causing the buyers and the public to stumble, and
they are accountable for the public's sin. As in other cities, this
should be buttressed by only patronizing stores that receive
certification.
3. Since the beis din is required to oversee public places to prevent
people from socializing improperly it has been decided to set up Agudas
Hashomrim, which will dispatch hundreds of avreichim to stand watch on
these matters.
4. Under the current set of circumstances on public buses it is very
hard to maintain proper modesty with women walking down the aisle past
the men, both in terms of the men and the women themselves, therefore it
has been decided to arrange to have women board via the rear door and
the public is asked to assist in upholding these arrangements. HaRav
Braverman then read the main takonos issued in accordance with gedolei
Yisroel.
Hi I'm not like UOJ who is defending Torah true Judaism. I'm the guy who finds any excuse to attack rabbonim. I go ape if rav Elyashev doesn't smile.
As I write on my own website, my hashkofos have recently taken a turn.
http://failedmessiah.typepad.com/about.html
UPDATE: January 2007 – I no longer have an interest in being a rabbi. My religious beliefs have changed much since I started this blog. For more details, please read this.
http://failedmessiah.typepad.com/failed_messiahcom/2006/10/what_i_believe.html
Think of the words of the marvelous Eric Bazilian song made famous by Joan Osborne:
What if God was one of us / just a slob like one of us
Hugh, Do you believe these guys in Bnei Brak? Time to get a Charedi centerfold.
"Do they know how many perpetrators" of sins against others "have been dealt with?" No, he averred, because when actions are taken against individuals who have proven themselves untrustworthy, Orthodox leaders do not trumpet their actions. And even as they take what steps are necessary to protect others, he added, they also seek to protect human dignity."
___________________________________
Whichever interpretation of the RMS speech you hold by (I haven't read the Rashi or Tosfos yet), his comments were self-incriminating. By implying that there are many cases of sexual abuse that were dealt with secretively, this shows that the magnitude of the problem is a lot worse than we ever imagined. This means that there are countless other offenders lurking out there that no one knows about. Why? Because RMS and his ilk decided to "protect human dignity" and did not publicize these cases. This is hardly a defense and only adds fuel to the raging fire.
The Agudah and their member rabbis have been protecting Kolko, Leizerowitz, Eiseman and Nussbaum for a total of 140 predator years when added up individually.
Now Salomon says trust us, we've been dealing with it with dignity in mind.
HYNES-LOCK THEM ALL UP AND THROW AWAY THE KEYS!!!!!
HYNES-LOCK THEM ALL UP AND THROW AWAY THE KEYS!!!!!
Hynes deserves to be locked up with them. He has been protecting Mondrowitz for over a decade. It's time to get rid of the bum!!
He's as corrupt as all these rabbis combined.
HYNES-LOCK THEM ALL UP AND THROW AWAY THE KEYS!!!!!
Hynes should be locked up together with them. He's been protecting Mondrowitz for over a decade. Everyone knows that he's on the take and that he's as corrupt as the Agudah.
I am m'kabel (accept) your criticism b'ahava. There are my reasons that will not be oisgehalten by the frum world.
In fact I've thought about it for a while and came to the conclusion that outrageous bad behavior by our fellow Jews required an outrageous reaction to capture the world attention.
In fact I am convinced I'm right,
(for now). Crazy sells; I'm not certain if polite language would have been quite as effective.
-----------------------------------
GO ROTO ROOTER
i dont want some ceo in a nice suit cleaning my sewer while worrying the whole time about messing up his suit, i want somebody who is dirty and has no problem using fowl language.
uoj dont stop the way you write, heck! we all lost our innocese years ago to these molesters.
to those who cant take it i ask what do you prefer a molester in your sons school or somebody talking dirty and taking care of your son, i dont need you answer for i prefer the dirty talk as any other decent human being should.
uoj dont stop your holy work its working.
LEIZEROWITZ VICTIM FOREVER
Appealing to DA Hynes is a waste of time. He's bought off by Belsky's buddies at the Iggud Haganovim.
Go over Hynes' head to Albany or the Justice Dept in Washington.
Margulies has just signed me on to instruct science / biology at YTT. He says he wants the same kind of professional educator in secular studies as he does in limudei kodesh.
Court: Kings Civil Supreme Index Number: 043490/1992 Upstate RJI Number:
Case Name: KOLKO,JOEL vs. KLEIN,SOLOMON
Case Type: Other
Track: Unknown
Disposition Date: 04/02/1993
Date NOI Due: NOI Filed: Disposition Deadline:
Calendar Number: 1992-023606M RJI Was Filed: 12/02/1992
Jury Status:
Justice Name: BARRY HUROWITZ
Attorney/Firm For Plaintiff: SOL MERMELSTEIN Attorney Type: Attorney Of Record Status: Active
5521 NEW UTRECHT AVENUE
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK 11219
436-8098
Court: Kings Civil Supreme Index Number: 021895/1998 Upstate RJI Number:
Case Name: KOLKO,JOEL & EDITH vs. TERN,HARRY
Case Type: Other
Track: Standard
Disposition Date: 03/22/2000
Date NOI Due: 08/06/1999 NOI Filed: Disposition Deadline:
Calendar Number: RJI Was Filed: 08/06/1998
Jury Status: Non-Jury
Justice Name: MICHAEL GARSON (PT. 23)
Attorney/Firm For Plaintiff: JAROSLAWICZ & JAROSLAWICZ Attorney Type: Attorney Of Record Status: Active
150 WILLIAM STREET
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10038
212-227-2780
There's also a lawsuit against a "Hanan Kolko". Who's that?
Court: Kings Civil Supreme Index Number: 006123/1984 Upstate RJI Number:
Case Name: APPLEGRAD,JACOB vs. MAIMONIDES MED CTR.
Case Type: Medical Malpractice
Track: Unknown
Disposition Date: 03/10/1992
Date NOI Due: NOI Filed: 10/22/1987 Disposition Deadline: 01/22/1989
Calendar Number: 1986-020120T RJI Was Filed: 07/14/1986
Jury Status: Jury At Plaintiff's Request
Justice Name: JOHN A. MONTELEONE
Attorney/Firm For Plaintiff: QUELLER & FISHER Attorney Type: Attorney Of Record Status: Active
233 BROADWAY, 18TH FL
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10279
212 422-3600
Court: New York Civil Supreme Index Number: 102873/1997 Upstate RJI Number:
Case Name: GRINBERG, YELENA vs. APPLEGRAD, JACOB
Case Type: Motor Vehicle
Track: Standard
Disposition Date: 11/01/2004
Date NOI Due: 08/18/1999 NOI Filed: 07/13/1999 Disposition Deadline: 01/01/2006
Calendar Number: 1999L-04362 RJI Was Filed: 08/18/1998
Jury Status: Jury At Plaintiff's Request
Justice Name: LOWE, RICHARD B. III
Attorney/Firm For Plaintiff: MICHAEL S. LAMONSOFF, LAW OFFC Attorney Type: Attorney Of Record Status: Active
80 MAIDEN LANE 12 FLOOR
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10038
(212) 962-1020
Attorney/Firm For Defendant:
MURRAY LEMONIK, ESQ. Attorney Type: Attorney Of Record Status: Active
2 ROBBINS LANE SUITE 302
JERICHO, N.Y. 11753
(516)-681-9757
The guy who sired the "Bungalow Putz"
Court: Kings Civil Supreme Index Number: 006594/1988 Upstate RJI Number:
Case Name: HOLTZBERT,MOSHE vs. DR. SOL NEUHOFF
Case Type: Medical Malpractice
Track: Unknown
Disposition Date: 01/28/1993
Date NOI Due: NOI Filed: 12/13/1990 Disposition Deadline: 03/15/1992
Calendar Number: 1988-006606T RJI Was Filed: 04/06/1988
Jury Status: Jury At Plaintiff's Request
Justice Name: JOSEPH S. LEVINE (PT. 2)
Attorney/Firm For Plaintiff: KRAMER DILLOF LIVINGSTON&MOORE Attorney Type: Attorney Of Record Status: Active
217 BROADWAY 10TH FL
NEW YORK NY 10007
212-267-4177
Attorney/Firm For Defendant:
BOWER & GARDNER Attorney Type: Attorney Of Record Status: Active
110 EAST 59TH STREET
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10017
212 751 2900
Court: Kings Civil Supreme Index Number: 012063/1983 Upstate RJI Number:
Case Name: REISS,BREINDY vs. NEUHOFF,SOL D
Case Type: Medical Malpractice
Track: Unknown
Disposition Date: 03/22/1995
Date NOI Due: NOI Filed: 01/25/1991 Disposition Deadline: 04/27/1992
Calendar Number: 1986-025710T RJI Was Filed: 09/15/1986
Jury Status: Jury At Plaintiff's Request
Justice Name: JOSEPH S. LEVINE (PT. 2)
Attorney/Firm For Plaintiff: KRAMER DILLOF LIVINGSTON&MOORE Attorney Type: Attorney Of Record Status: Active
217 BROADWAY, 10TH FL.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10007
212-267-4177
Attorney/Firm For Defendant:
BOWER & GARDNER Attorney Type: Attorney Of Record Status: Active
110 EAST 59TH STREET
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10017
212 751 2900
GARBARINI & SCHER Attorney Type: Attorney Of Record Status: Active
432 PARK AVENUE SOUTH
NEW YORK, NY 10016
212-764-4000
JOHN V. CAMPANO Attorney Type: Attorney Of Record Status: Active
230 WEST 41ST STREET,14TH FL
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10036
(212) 221-6944
Court: Kings Civil Supreme Index Number: 015359/2006 Upstate RJI Number:
Case Name: KLUGMAN,ALIZA vs. NEUHOFF,SOL DAVID M.D.
Case Type: Medical Malpractice
Track: Complex
Disposition Date:
Date NOI Due: 10/13/2007 NOI Filed: Disposition Deadline:
Calendar Number: RJI Was Filed: 07/12/2006
Jury Status:
Justice Name: RANDOLPH JACKSON (PT. 11)
Attorney/Firm For Plaintiff: JAROSLAWICZ & JAROSLAWICZ Attorney Type: Attorney Of Record Status: Active
150 WILLIAM STREET
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10038
212-227-2780
Attorney/Firm For Defendant:
AARONSON,RAPPAPORT,FEINSTEIN&D Attorney Type: Attorney Of Record Status: Active
757 3RD AVENUE, 4TH FLOOR
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10017
212 593-6700
VASLAS LEPOWSKY HAUSS & DANKE Attorney Type: Attorney Of Record Status: Active
201 EDWARD CURRY AVENUE,S 200
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. 10314
718 761-9300
Court: New York Civil Supreme Index Number: 121279/1997 Upstate RJI Number:
Case Name: JOSEPH, ASHLEY vs. NEUHOFF, SOL
Case Type: Other Torts
Track: Standard
Disposition Date: 06/18/1998
Date NOI Due: 05/11/1999 NOI Filed: Disposition Deadline:
Calendar Number: RJI Was Filed: 05/11/1998
Jury Status:
Justice Name: DE GRASSE, LELAND
Why do we have to attack Neuhoff's father?
Court: Kings Civil Supreme Index Number: 038143/1997 Upstate RJI Number:
Case Name: RUBIN,ABRAHAM vs. BELSKY,ISRAEL
Case Type: Other Torts Negligence
Track: Standard
Disposition Date: 12/08/1999
Date NOI Due: 04/15/1999 NOI Filed: Disposition Deadline:
Calendar Number: RJI Was Filed: 04/15/1998
Jury Status:
Justice Name: WILLIAM J. GARRY (PT. 28)
Attorney/Firm For Plaintiff: TOM STICKEL, ESQ, Attorney Type: Attorney Of Record Status: Active
910 GRAND CONCOURSE,STE 1-K
BRONX, NEW YORK 10451
718 293-4800
Attorney/Firm For Defendant:
RIMBERG & ASSOCIATES P.C. Attorney Type: Attorney Of Record Status: Active
600 THIRD AVENUE
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10016
212-697-3250
Court: Queens Civil Supreme Index Number: 023051/2001 Upstate RJI Number:
Case Name: COHEN, JOSEPH ANO vs. AGUDATH ISRAEL OF AMERICA ETAL
Case Type: Negligence
Track: Standard
Disposition Date: 12/06/2004
Date NOI Due: 12/31/2002 NOI Filed: 12/24/2002 Disposition Deadline: 05/13/2004
Calendar Number: V009423 RJI Was Filed: 12/31/2001
Jury Status: Jury At Plaintiff's Request
Justice Name: TRIAL SCHEDULING JUDGE
Attorney/Firm For Plaintiff: KAGAN & GERTEL, ESQS. Attorney Type: Attorney Of Record Status: Active
1123 AVENUE J
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK 11230
718-258-8080
Attorney/Firm For Defendant:
MICHAEL F.X. MANNING, ESQ. Attorney Type: Attorney Of Record Status: Active
1225 FRANKLIN AVENUE
GARDEN CITY,NY 11530
(516) 663-5100
The Rebbe is trying to convince the judge that he is from Boro Park and this is a Flatbush issue.
Court: Kings Civil Supreme Index Number: 009490/2005 Upstate RJI Number:
Case Name: ZOBERMAN,YEHUDA vs. NOVOMINSK,YESHIVAS
Case Type: Other Torts Negligence
Track: Complex
Disposition Date:
Date NOI Due: 08/18/2006 NOI Filed: Disposition Deadline:
Calendar Number: RJI Was Filed: 05/17/2005
Jury Status:
Justice Name: LAWRENCE KNIPEL (PT. 57)
Attorney/Firm For Plaintiff: JAROSLAWICZ & JAROSLAWICZ Attorney Type: Attorney Of Record Status: Active
150 WILLIAM STREET
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10038
212-227-2780
Attorney/Firm For Defendant:
MARSHALL,CONWAY & WRIGHT Attorney Type: Attorney Of Record Status: Active
116 JOHN STREET
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10038
212 619-4444
AHMUTY,DEMERS & MCMANUS, ESQ. Attorney Type: Attorney Of Record Status: Active
200 I.U. WILLETS ROAD
ALBERTSON, NEW YORK 11507
516 294-5433
I will not put up Shafran's personal home information and phone number.E-mail: shafran@agudathisrael.org
Torah Umesorah E-mail:
umesorah@aol.com
Some of these cases are restraining orders against Epstein & Peretz Steinberg after the Iggud Haganovim used their mafia tactics against women.
Court: Suffolk Civil Supreme Index Number: 001103/1996 Upstate RJI Number:
Case Name: FRANKEL, HADASSAH vs. EPSTEIN, RABBI MENDEL
Case Type: Other Torts
Track: Standard
Disposition Date: 06/20/1997
Date NOI Due: 01/08/1998 NOI Filed: Disposition Deadline:
Calendar Number: RJI Was Filed: 01/08/1997
Jury Status:
Justice Name: HOWARD BERLER (20)
Attorney/Firm For Plaintiff: RICHARD J. KURTZ & ASSOCIATES Attorney Type: Attorney Of Record Status: Active
40 EXCHANGE PLACE, STE 1501
NEW YORK, NY 10005
(212) 344-1700
Attorney/Firm For Defendant:
DENNIS RAPPS, ESQ. Attorney Type: Attorney Of Record Status: Active
135 WEST 50TH STREET
NEW YORK, NY 10022
(212) 641-8992
ELIZABETH ZARGARY, ESQ. Attorney Type: Attorney Of Record Status: Active
1536 CONEY ISLAND AVENUE
BROOKLYN, NY 11230
(718) 252-6120
KOPFF, NARDELLI & DOPF, ESQS. Attorney Type: Attorney Of Record Status: Active
440 NINTH AVENUE
NEW YORK, NY 10001
(212) 244-2999
Court: Kings Civil Supreme Index Number: 027236/2006 Upstate RJI Number:
Case Name: GLATZER,ROSE D. vs. EPSTEIN,MENDEL RABBI
Case Type: Special Proceedings
Track: Standard
Disposition Date:
Date NOI Due: 09/11/2007 NOI Filed: Disposition Deadline:
Calendar Number: RJI Was Filed: 09/11/2006
Jury Status:
Justice Name: MARK I. PARTNOW
Court: Kings Civil Supreme Index Number: 016553/1990 Upstate RJI Number:
Case Name: FEDERAL HOME LOAN MTGE CORP vs. EPSTEIN,MENDEL
Case Type: Other
Track: Unknown
Disposition Date: 06/11/1996
Date NOI Due: NOI Filed: Disposition Deadline:
Calendar Number: 1991-018930M RJI Was Filed: 09/23/1991
Jury Status:
Justice Name: MELVIN S. BARASCH
Court: Kings Civil Supreme Index Number: 014554/1990 Upstate RJI Number:
Case Name: CITY MORTGAGE BANKING vs. EPSTEIN,LEAH&MENDEL
Case Type: Other
Track: Unknown
Disposition Date: 12/10/1992
Date NOI Due: NOI Filed: Disposition Deadline:
Calendar Number: 1991-006729M RJI Was Filed: 03/29/1991
Jury Status:
Justice Name: GERALD S. HELD
One of the vilest humans right up there along with his friend Margulies is Fraud Aaron Twerski. The guy with the phony college degree from Bais Medrash Elyon used to get him in to law school. He is responsible for leaning hard on Hynes not to extradite Mondrowitz, and preventing thus far the arrest of Lipa Margulies, and the re-arrest of Yudi Kolko! E-mail the bastard at:
aaron.d.twerski@hofstra.edu
Court: Kings Civil Supreme Index Number: 011044/1994 Upstate RJI Number:
Case Name: TWERSKI,AARON vs. ROTTENBERG,MESHILEM
Case Type: Other Torts Negligence
Track: Complex
Disposition Date: 11/16/1998
Date NOI Due: 12/16/1995 NOI Filed: 05/02/1997 Disposition Deadline: 08/03/1998
Calendar Number: 1994-019224T RJI Was Filed: 09/14/1994
Jury Status: Jury At Plaintiff's Request
Justice Name: IRVING S. ARONIN
Attorney/Firm For Plaintiff: HERSCHEL KULEFSKY, ESQ. Attorney Type: Attorney Of Record Status: Active
111 JOHN STREET SUITE 1910
NEW YORK, NY 10038
212 693-1671
Attorney/Firm For Defendant:
GLADSTEIN & ISAAC Attorney Type: Attorney Of Record Status: Active
110 WALL STREET
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10005
(212) 952-1111
Gerreristas can even censor the internet.
Ha'aretz
Last update - 10:31 03/10/2006
Hasid versus Hasid - on the Internet
By Tamar Rotem
On March 11, 2004, at 16:25, a posting appeared on the Hasidic Courts forum of the Hyde Park idea exchange (Hebrew) web site. "Fierce blows again in the Gerer community: Ackerman vs. Levine," blared the subject line, followed by the information that "hundreds of Hasidim gathered to watch the sight of Ackerman knocking Levine down and hitting him again and again, and no one came to his aid... This man is a gentle, married yeshiva student, suspected by the bully Ackerman of loving the Torah and loving G-d and (justifiably) loving P.N.M. [see below]. Jews are crying out in pain, "How much longer?'!!!"
This passage is a quote from a slander suit filed in August in the Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court. Ostensibly, the case concerns two Haredi ultra-Orthodox men. The plaintiff, Yisrael Ackerman, is a married yeshiva student from Jerusalem, from a well-known family of Gerer Hasidim. The defendant, referred to as "Ploni Almoni" (the Hebrew equivalent of John Doe), is an anonymous contributor to the members-only Hasidic Courts forum, which addresses events among the various Hasidic groups.
Ackerman claims in his suit that the publication of the violent act attributed to him - which he denies vehemently - seriously harmed him, his family and his surroundings. Ackerman is not making do with a demand for monetary compensation, and is calling for the identity of the defendant to be exposed. Nonetheless, ultra-Orthodox Hasidim and analysts have raised the possibility that the motivation for the suit lies elsewhere, in the bitter internal struggles within Gerer Hasidism.
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Immediately after publication of the posting, Ackerman petitioned the Jerusalem District Court to order Hyde Park to reveal the identity of the item's author, so that Ackerman could file a civil suit against him for slander. In 2005, Judge Boaz Okun ruled that the defendant's identity not be published, but that Ackerman could sue him under the name Ploni Almoni. The sides agreed that the slander suit would be heard by the Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court. The defendant's attorney says the insistence on the disclosure of the posting's author is incomprehensible.
"Perhaps the issue of the [author's] exposure is the real story behind this suit," says attorney David Shava, who is representing the defendant. "If Ackerman's claim is proved, which is not likely, he will receive an apology and perhaps also money. I do not understand why the suit also insists on the exposure [of the author], unless there is only one goal: to hound the defendant."
The defense claims that when there is a clash between freedom of expression, the surfers' right to the protection of their privacy, and the prohibition against slander, protection of privacy must take precedence. This is because, as far as the defendant is concerned, the suit involves a principle and even a humanitarian issue - if the court accedes to the plaintiff's demand to expose the defendant's identity, he will be hounded and ostracized.
Even so, analysts familiar with Gerer Hasidim, including ultra-Orthodox researcher Benjamin Brown of Bar Ilan University, wonder how the hounding of Hasidim who have voiced criticism of the current Hasidic leadership could be the reason for the suit. The analysts explain that such persecution has occurred in recent years, on the background of the Gerer leadership's fears of a split in their Hasidic group.
'Loving P.N.M.'
"Behind the suit," states the "respondent's position" published by the defense, which was filed with the District Court about two years ago, "is a deeply rooted and real ideological dispute between the heads of the Gerer Hasidic court. Indeed, it is only natural that every ideological dispute is accompanied by wild weeds that presume to act in the name of the truth that they do not understand and will not learn. Such is the plaintiff, who is not out to redeem his own honor, but rather the honor of an unknown ideology."
The interpretation arising from this document is that the grounds for the suit are not slander - the description of Ackerman as violent. The analysts believe that the real grounds are the sentence in the item published on the forum, that Levine was "suspected by the bully of loving the Torah and loving G-d and (justifiably) loving P.N.M." Brown explains that P.N.M. refers to the late Rabbi Pinhas Menachem Alter, the admired Admor, or Hasidic leader, of the Gerer community, who preceded the present leader, Rabbi Yaakov Alter, and was also his uncle.
Only someone familiar with the internal politics of Gerer Hasidim can understand the true meaning and incendiary nature of those seemingly innocent words. The background to this matter, continues Brown, lies in the internal struggle within the Gerer community and the threat to its leadership that the current Admor fears from the direction of his cousin, Rabbi Shaul Alter, head of the Sfat Emet yeshiva and the son of Rabbi Menachem Alter. The current Hasidic leader managed to quell the challenge about four years ago, but the struggle crops up time and again.
In other words, Ackerman ostensibly hit Levine because he was suspected of being a follower of Shaul Alter. One of the questions arising from this assumption is whether Ackerman was acting of his own accord or if he was sent by someone politically senior to him. Now the Hasidim closely associated with the Gerer court wonder whether the suit is another attempt at silencing opposition in the leadership struggle. The item by the anonymous forum member was written during a period when there was open opposition to the Hasidic leadership. Since then the current Admor has made a number of muscle-flexing moves to prove his leadership, most notably the closure of the Haifa Gerer yeshiva, which identified with Rabbi Shaul Alter.
Gerer sources claim that various elements are operating within the Hasidic group to silence any murmurs of critical discussion within its ranks. These sources say that such actions reflect the atmosphere within the Gerer community, and that the suit is a continuation of this policy. No response was available from Ackerman's lawyer regarding the above claims before the publication of this article.
The case currently under way in the Magistrate's Court is fascinating for a few other reasons. First, it shows the weight attributed to the Internet among the ultra-Orthodox in general and Hasidim in particular, despite the attempts by their rabbinic leaders to ban its use. The suit also sheds light on the launching of dozens of Internet forums on ultra-Orthodox topics in recent years. A few of these sites, such as Hasidic Courts are quite lively and boast thousands of visitors a day. It is also a known fact that certain discussions (threads) on the forum are printed out and publicized in local Hasidic synagogues the following day.
As much as the plaintiff is interested in presenting the Internet as a significant influence in Hasidic life, in order to prove that it caused harm, the leadership is striving equally to minimize the Internet's value. Ackerman's lawyer, Yechiel Weinroth, claims that following the item on the forum, one of the leading rabbis at Ackerman's yeshiva advised him to stay away from his studies until the matter was resolved. The suit claims that Ackerman subsequently suffered severe humiliation, because being suspended from one's studies is akin to being suspended from one's job. The suit further contends that Ackerman's father was ridiculed in synagogue, and that Ackerman became a victim of telephone harassment.
By contrast, the defendant claims that Hasidic Courts is an inconsequential forum that is closed to non-members, and items posted therefore have little reverberations. The anonymous defendant's lawyer notes that on the day his client's item was posted, there were thousands of other postings, so why should anyone focus specifically on a marginal statement concerning Gerer Hasidim?
Unseen censor
The analysts point to the recent removal of the thread on the Hasidic Courts forum discussing a division within the Gerer community, as part of the censoring by unseen Hasidic elements. Another thread dealt with the continued leadership of the various Admors, including that of Gerer. One surfer wrote that one of the previous leaders of Gerer, Rabbi Simcha Bunim Alter (the father of the current Admor), said the group might one day split. The surfer commented, "What's the big deal? There can be two." One of the Hasidim who participate in the forum reported that the administrators of Hyde Park apologized to surfers for erasing the thread, noting that they had received a request from the leadership of Gerer to do so.
"That thread discussed how Gerer would look after the death of the Admor - whether there would be power struggles," explained Lior Weitz, content manager for the Hevre ("Buddies") portal, which operates Hyde Park. "The thread, from beginning to end, was composed of suppositions and guesses - nothing illegal. The thread was removed after I was told that the continuation of the discussion while the current Admor is alive and well would lead to divisiveness, dispute and even violence. I am not prepared for that sort of thing to be on my conscience and for Hyde Park to serve as a forum for arguments and splits. This is even in the regulations of the web site."
Here is the problem with Shafran and why he is so dangerous.
R' Salomon's words were said exactly as Shafran recalled. However, this does not vindicate R' Salomon or the Agudah at all. Just the opposite - their very words indicate the depth of the problem.
Here goes:
RS said that we do sweep things under the carpet, but not in the way they mean. He goes on to say that his understanding of sweeping things under the carpet is different than ours. His detractors understand this to mean that the leadership has ignored the problem while RS understands the very same expression to mean that they have done right. They have dealt with the problem in a quiet way
First, he has misunderstood his detractors' complaint. When we say that they have swept it under the carpet, we mean exactly what RS goes on to say. We don't mean that they necessarily have ignored the problem (though I am sure that they are guilty of this as well). What we mean is that they have decided to deal with it in their own way, by handling it in a quiet way and seeking to protect human dignity. That is the core of our complaint. How can the Agudah and others determine that human dignity (whatever that means) is more important than dealing with the problem in an open and strong manner?
Even if at some point this was a well-meaning strategy, surely after seeing so many cases of repeat offenders they should have modified the strategy years ago to incorporate all the things that UOJ has been calling for. They should have realized that protection of the victims is paramount - not human dignity. It is not enough to deal with it quietly under the carpet.
Second, RS is saying that their strategy of dealing with it quietly has been successful and that we do not know how many success stories they have had. But he never does tell us if Kolko, Margo, Mondrowitz, Nussbaum, Eisman, etc, are blemishes on their otherwise sterling record of dealing with offenders. Are they simply cases that the Agudah did not know about? Is he saying that had they known about these cases, they surely would have dealt with it with their always successful strategy of protecting human dignity? AS it appears that these cases have been well-know for many years, it would seem that their strategy did not work (at least in these cases)? Where is RS's acknowledgement that their strategy has allowed these vile molesters to continue to destroy NESHAMOS for so many years? Or is he saying that human dignity is far more important than human life? (the lives of the victims)
Third, are we really to believe that the above-mentioned molesters are exceptions to the Agudah's otherwise excellent success-rate of dealing with these issues or shoudl we assume that these molesters and cases that we have heard about are just the tip of the iceberg? And that the startegy of sweeping it under the carpet is a lousy idea that rarely if ever works?
So Shafran - you have cleverly misconstrued the conversation into "us" using one interpretation of "sweeping it under the carpet" while RS meant something entirely differently. You have left out the critical points, though. AS stated, we interpreted it in the exact way that RS did and that is why we are appalled. It is not only because we think that they ignored the problem that we are enraged. It is because as RS and SHafran admit to they decided to deal with the problem on their own and now have the arrognace to flaunt how successful they have been that we are so enraged.
By the way, what about the victims, Avi?
unconfirmed report:
sfas emes yesivah by the end of the year is dispersing all students to different yeshivahs so that r'shaul alter will lose his position as rosh yeshivah.
my sources tell me that he is opening his own yeshivah,kol hakovod to him.
a gerer chossid
"Human dignity" is the code the Agudah is using for hamalbin pnei chavero. That itself is a code for we don't want to get caught with our pants down for all the cover ups for that would expose the face of our shiny white rear ends.
Hey, who cares about suffering victims when the Agudah has to cover up, years of cover ups called criminal conspiracy?
We have been receiving huge bulk orders for indigestion aids from the Agudah & YTT.
They can't believe how UOJ manages to dig up every bit of personal info about them, from where they live to what kind of toilet paper they use. They are closely following this blog and it aint pretty.
I bet you that down the road the Agudah would have no problem publicizing individuals that go against their guidelines and use the Internet, read blogs etc, in order to keep them away from schools, organizations etc. that the Agudah deems to be under their auspices, while still maintaining the position of sweeping child abuse under the rug.
On a side note, speaking of guidelines. When was the last time you saw anyone of the Rabbonim on the Moietezs put their foot down and say I'm not attending Mr. X's sons or daughters wedding because he didn't follow the Agudah standards.
I remember when these rules first came out, I was at a wedding, not to ostentatious but definitely not abiding by the rules, and guess who was up front and center being Mesader Kiddushin himself, none other then the Novimsker.
Bottom line is practice what you preach. Stop wasting your time month after month advertising these rules in the JO and use that space for something more imperative...Like maybe issuing a public apology to those who have been victim to abuse by turning a blind eye and not holding the schools that harbor these individuals knowingly accountable.
UOJ:
You are wrong to assert about Twerski that “The guy with the phony college degree from Bais Medrash Elyon used to get him in to law school.” When he went to law school, law schools did not take students with yeshiva degrees. As can be seen from the link below, he has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. But regardless of whether he has a real college degree of not, I do not think that is what has you upset about Twerski. There are so many people who went to law school on semi-bogus yeshiva degrees, and you are not concerned about them. You would have better off if when criticizing someone, if you stick to the issues that really prompt you to be upset, rather than just collect every unrelated issue you can find pertaining to said individual. It would depersonalize your criticism, and make it harder to dismiss your criticism as merely the anger of a bitter man.
http://www.hofstra.edu/Academics/Law/law_twerski.cfm
Anyone that is not personally ashamed to put on his resume as a "secular" credential, a B.A. from Bais Midrash Elyon, is no better than a dog who has no shame. A dog craps in the street withought thought if someone will step into it, and Twerski craps all over the truth regardless of how much damage he's causing. I'm dead serious about the analogy! Twerski is inhuman!
UOJ is right. Aaron Twerski is a fraud. Aguda trots him out for their sex abuse and legal conferences, where a few things get said, and nothing gets done. Twerski knows nothing about this area of the law - its quite obvious to both lawyers and non-lawyers. He BS's his way through.
On the other hand, he has, through his political connections, manipulated Brooklyn politics to such a degree that orthodox sexual deviants do not get criminally prosecuted, except for Kolko, where the heat on the DA was too great. Orthodox perverts get shipped over to OHEL.
Please also recall his immortal words, "Lipa Margulies is an honorable man", quoted in the Jewish Week, after publication of the NY Magazine story.
You might also be surprised to learn that he likes the publicity. He let himself be interviewed by the Village Voice on the Mondrowitz case, and that is a blatantly pornographic weekly newspaper. Of course, he downplayed the significance of the case.
He sure wasn't shy, either, when he was appointed a law school dean, his photo was everywhere.
On "Evolution of a Minhag" .............and since some people wrap themselves in their covers as if they were clothing,one should make sure there is no shatnez in them.If there is,one should sleep on a bed without covers,unless it is very cold.Of course,what constitutes"very cold" is a machlokes in itself,and some say it depends on the individual.Nevertheless,one should not really sleep on a bed for fear that the comfort will cause him to sleep too long and thus be mevatel torah.to be yotzei kol Hadeios,therefore,it is preferable to sleep on the floor,unless of course,the plushness of the carpeting may cause one to sleep too much.A true ben torah should make sure the carpet is no thicker than the width of a toenail.Some people hold this refers only to a cut toe nail,however.Others hold one should not cut toenails on a carpeted floor for fear that it might lead to mixed dancing.
what's the latest re: Rabbi Eisemann?
There is little reason to be upset at Shafran. The Agudah is largely irrelevant and will fade away in the coming years. They know it. Most of them are out of touch and near retirement. The world is changing and with it, the Jews. The Orthodox community can no longer be lied to like in the days of old. The information age will help disseminate the truth at a rate that is far beyond the clutches of the ketanim who mistakenly believe they are here to stay.
Less and less people are giving a shit about this and that p'sak and convention. Sure, some may pay lip service and - as a result of perceived social pressure - pretend for a while to give a rats ass about internet bans, etc. but in the end people just want to be left alone to live an upstanding, productive life without being dictated to on the minutia of every day life. There are bills to pay, children to raise and family to spend time with and jobs to go to (for some)....
Well, excuse me! I sit on the Agudah dais and I don't like what's being said over here. We are going to find out who Gross is and villify him at the next convention.
Tnoo kovod leTorah which means that any idiot that puts on a frock must be worshipped.
UOJ, if Shafran's home phone number is in a public database, then what's the difference if you allow it to be posted here? You actually already posted a link to his home address which is included in the housing c of o. You've posted the phone number for the bungalow putz, who while he is a pest, is a smaller player in all this than Shafran is.
A jewish porn video is definitely in order-it shall be called"RABBI'S GONE WILD!"
I regret posting Neuhoff's address and phone number, regardless of what I think of him. If you can get Shafran's info, you don't need me. Please understand that even a dangerous rasha like me have standards:)
I looked up some of those court records on Mendel Epstain. I see he is using his daughter as his lawyer. Shame on Shimmy Hersko for letting his wife get involved in crooked Iggud affairs. I don't care who his shver is.
Right on the money, R' Gross shlita!
To the person who mentioned a sex-abuse victim who committed suicide, you are correct.
Also, many people may not be aware or familiar with another case where a Bobov Yeshiva sex-abuse victim, a son of a respected rabbi, committed suicide by hanging himself in the bathroom, nebach.
This victim had no one to go to that would listen or believe him. Afterwards Bobov Yeshiva made a feeble attempt to keep this incident under the radar. They sort of "cleaned house" by firing or letting go some of their staff from Bobov, some who they felt were the cause of this boy taking his own life, and some who they felt should just be let go for other reasons. This created a firestorm by some believed they had done no wrong and were thrown out without due cause.
I can tell you though, that sexual abuse is still very prevalent in Bobov. And physical abuse is non-stop around the clock.
Call to Action: Asking Herzlia-Adas Yeshurun Synagogue to have the plaque removed honoring Rabbi Ephraim Bryks .
Contact Information:
Rabbi Tzvi Muller at Herzlia - Adas Yeshurun Synagogue
620 Brock St., Winnipeg, MB, Canada, R3N 0Z4
Phone: (204) 489-6262 Fax: (204) 489-5899
email: herzlia2000@yahoo.ca
This Yom Kippur will mark the 12th anniversary of the suicide of Daniel Levin an alleged victim of Rabbi Ephraim Boruch Bryks (http://www.theawarenesscenter.org/bryks_ephraim.html). It is a difficult time in particular for his family and friends as Daniel's alleged abuser has never been brought to real justice (if such a thing is even possible at this point) and continues to thrive and work with women and children, not in some small Jewish community but in the New York Orthodox Jewish community.
The Winnipeg Jewish community and Bryks' former Orthodox Union affiliated synagogue, Herzlia Adas Yeshurun (the site of Daniel's abuse), continue to refuse any acknowledgment or responsibility. No apology, no compassion. A plaque honoring Rabbi Ephraim Boruch Bryks remains on the synagogue's "Tree of Life." All Daniel has is a tombstone in a cemetery.
The Awareness Center Has A Call to Action asking everyone to contact Herzlia Adas Yeshurun and ask them to remove the plaque, and perhaps replace it with a plaque honoring the memory of Daniel Levin (see contact information above). For more information regarding the Bryks case, go to: http://www.theawarenesscenter.org/Bryks_Ephraim.html
Sincerely,
Vicki Polin, MA, ATR, LCPC
Executive Director - The Awareness Center
UOJ, where did you learn that Twerski is pressuring the DA to not arrest Margo? Is that from the lawyers or do you have a source in the NYPD or civil service? Margo is a bigger rosho than Kolko. I hope they put his fat tush behind bars. And isn't this unethical behavior by Twerski that can land him in trouble?
Reb UOJ,
When are you opening a Yeshiva?
I have reliable sources everywhere. Twerski is under scrutiny himself for issues related to his conduct here and elsewhere.
Time to flush the scum from our system. And I'm doing my part, trust me. Twerski will regret the day he vouched for Margulies's integrity at the expense of the victims pain.
Here is the problem UOJ, and I believe nobody else has ever told you that. While it looks like you won the day and forced the Agudah to scramble with some crazy solution of banning the entire internet, lest anybody has any access to what UOJ has to say, in the end of the day they seem to be winning the war. And the reason is that they are waging the war correctly while you are not.
Now before all of you attack me as a secret supporter of Agudah and its Gedoilim (sad lough), elt me explain my self.
It is true that most of the current crop of "Gedoiley Toirah" is far from being what any sane person could describe as such. It is true that most of them either inherited their names or are cronies of the previous kind. However, while they have not inherit any Gadluth with the name, they inherited something that is by far more important in waging a war. They inherited their corresponding organizations. And with those organizations they inherited three important things that UOJ lacks:
a) Unlimitted funding to wage a war in anyway they see fit.
b) Loyal, captive troops to wage the war for them
c) A full control on the Agudah slick, organized and war experiensed machinery.
With those assets in their side they may wage an endless war, they may use any weapon in their grasp in order to win both the PR and the physical war. They have access to the internal audience and to the general media that UOJ does not have.
You see, UOJ may have some incriminationg papers against the Gedoilim of yore, but all this information would be filtered to their troops through the organized campign lenses. UOJ would be reduced to a mud slinger who bad mouth (Motzie Shem Ra' and telling Loshon Ha-Ra') these "saintly" people. He would be successfully described as a ill intentioned Rasha' that no one should listen to. And to the general media he would be presented as same, an individual who does not recognize the "honorable" efforts of Agudah to keep people hosnest while preserving their dignity. Kolko would be presented as a case were they failed because nobody had told them (sic.) {I won't be surprised if Belsky and Marg are now - metaphorically - being tortured in the Agudah secret chambers to shut their mouth, so they could throw Kolko to the dogs.)
Sadly, when one wages a political war, there is only on way to win and that is to have one's own organization with PR at al. An organization that would be capable of outdoing anything the Agudah can do. There is only one caviat in that. Such an organization could and would be corrupted some time down the line and it would be upon the generation of that time to rid us of that organization when need be.
ZA
Why do you regret posting Neuhoff's info?
ZA,
While you make interesting points, you fail to know the support I am getting from prominent main stream rabbonim in the Haredi world.
I would never divulge or even hint at the names, but I have proven myself to be a person that says it like it is. The support of the Agudah is crumbling like last year's shmura matza.
Like I said in the "state of the union", this is a generational war, the generals are many rabbonim and rosh yeshivas and guys like you and me, and do things they're way. I'm an impatient guy. I like seeing results immediately, yamim yagidu, we will certainly prevail, no doubt. Look how far we came in the last 12 months! You do yours, I do mine, and everybody should do theirs, and we will win.
to the above anon.at 8:39
wrong wrong wrong!
here is your mistake there are probably hundreds of victims loyale to uoj and would be willing to do a heck of a lot more to damage agudah if they start with jihad against the gadol of our time R'UOJ think about it just imagine if once a month another victim came forward and filed a suit against his/her yeshivah.
point to ponder, you think the agudah is strong, i think the cathlic church was stronger, get the picture.
they were toppled like dominoes
LEIZEROWITZ VICTIM FOREVER
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Plans by the federal Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to start operating x-ray security scanners at US airports has prompted Agudath Israel of America to raise concerns with the Department of Homeland Security – TSA’s parent agency. Experts claim that the controversial devices – which beam low level x-rays through people’s clothing — can produce clear images of passengers’ bodies.
According to Agudath Israel Washington Office director Rabbi Abba Cohen, plans to deploy the scanners were first announced two years ago. “At that time, DHS assured us that religious objections would be adequately addressed.”
One suggestion was offered during subsequent testimony before a House of Representatives committee. A spokesperson for one of the two manufacturers of the scanning devices introduced its “cloaking” software that, he maintained, would make images of bodies less explicit.
For many passengers, however, the religiously observant among them, “less explicit” may fall far short of an acceptable standard of modesty — a concern voiced by the Agudah representative during recent communications with DHS officials in the wake of the agency’s announced plans to begin testing the device at specified airports. “They again assured me that, in their opinion, the software does a good job of blurring the image,” Cohen said.
This, however, remains a matter of dispute. And there are related questions regarding abuse of the technology and misappropriation of the images. The American Civil Liberties Union, with which Agudath Israel has been in touch, has called the scanners a “virtual strip search.”
DHS officials responded to Rabbi Cohen’s concerns in a positive fashion and said they hoped to be able to allay Agudath Israel’s concerns.
This is not the first time issues of religious sensitivities have come up in the context of homeland security. A problem came to the fore when heightened airport security checks after September 11 required Orthodox Jewish women to remove hair coverings or certain articles of clothing in a manner that would violate Jewish laws of modesty. Other religious communities also complained about demands to remove turbans and other religious garb.
As a result of these complaints, TSA has required the provision of separate rooms where religious adherents would be able to follow security procedures in a private setting in the presence of security personnel of the same gender.
“The Orthodox Jewish community is extremely supportive of the Department of Homeland Security’s efforts to protect this country and its citizens,” says Rabbi Cohen. “And we are especially gratified by the agency’s willingness to work with us when those efforts conflict in some way with religious practice or sensibilities.
“We are confident that the DHS will be responsive to our concerns in this situation as well.”
Kolko was indicted today.
http://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/webcrim_attorney/AttorneyDefendantDetail?docketNumber=2006KN084956&courtType=L&countyId=I2JGMM81mCU%3D&docketId=sDVovpUt%2BBc%3D&docketDseq=0TEz5QMhYIg%3D&defendantName=KOLKO, JOEL&county=KINGS&court=Criminal Court&recordType=C&recordNum=4051620
or
http://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/webcrim_attorney/AttorneySearchCase#search_result
And Scott Tulman is now listed as his official attorney.
All of a sudden you're all for legislation when you want to prevent a virtual strip search. This after you railroaded legislation to help potential abuse victims who Yudi Kolko wants to strip search the real way.
ARE YOU MENTAL ?
What happened with Kolko & Klein. Was Kolko mazmin Klein to beis din first and he didn't show up or did Kolko go straight to arkoseyhem?
UOJ, I surely hope you are correct in assessing your power vs. these guys. I would still consider creating a more formal political organization that could fight and take over the Haredi world. In other words, tactics is not enough you need strategy as well. You need to set specific goals, specific possible alternative targets. You need to plan ahead what would you do when such targets will fall into your hand and how to consolidate a newly found power.
In essence, in a war, you need to act as in a war. You made yourself the leader, so you have to know what you are doing with that leadership, both through the war and sfter the eventual victory (if you do it correctly.)
I will recommend that you read this book, and do it fast "strategy, B. H. Liddell Hart, ISBN 0452010713". This book was written by another type of great man and you would love him because he promoted seeking, exposing and sticking with the truth as the only possible measure of not repeating past mistakes. Truth and never coverup (known in other language as part of Issur Loshon Ha-Ra)
ZA
P.S. I will email you so we may take this discussion off line if you wish.
ZA
UOJ is right !! Agudah will fall apart. Just stop and think about all of the present and future financial support and memberships that agudah will never have because of this blog.
UOJ,
You're being a little harsh with your characterization of yeshiva credits & degrees. If Ivy League & Jesuit law schools accept them on par with other undergrad work, I don't think anyone has a right to have more stringent standards. Twerski is a fraud, and yes an animal, for reasons that have nothing to do with this. I always found it funny that the secular world accepts yeshiva transcripts while fellow haymishe Yidden heap ridicule on them. Seriously speaking, horeving on a blatt sharpens your mind more than most of the curricula at a university. I'm not just talking about the in vogue bird courses like Afro-American hair braiding and Lesbian music composition. Most subject matter, like being medayek on Geoffrey Chaucer, etc, does nothing for your thought process. As a matter of fact, a Carnegie Mellon U study found that yeshivaleit have much higher cognitive skills than the general population.
Most yeshivos in NY-NJ offer credits that are portable. Two NJ yeshivos at opposite polar ends, Lakewood & Morristown, are actually state accredited universities in their own right that grant full degrees. Many Lakewooders have gone on to pass the bar with flying colors. I remember one particularly bright fellow from Lakewood who attended an Ivy law school. Even his peers from YU and totally secular backgrounds said he was the smartest guy in the class.
Also, even if years in yeshiva should be deemed meaningless, would you rather that everyone just wallow and create even larger numbers of lethargic parasites who look to you for a handout? I think you should be applauding whoever has the chilutz atzamos to do something with his life.
Court: Kings Civil Supreme Index Number: 006497/1992 Upstate RJI Number:
Case Name: FARINA,ANTHONY vs. BRENNER,LEWIS & DORIS
Case Type: Other
Track: Unknown
Disposition Date: 08/06/1996
Date NOI Due: NOI Filed: Disposition Deadline:
Calendar Number: 1992-004658M RJI Was Filed: 03/03/1992
Jury Status: Non-Jury
Justice Name: HERBERT KRAMER (PT. 13)
Attorney/Firm For Defendant:
KOENIGSBERG & GENOVA Attorney Type: Attorney Of Record Status: Active
130 WILLIAM STREET, 12TH FL.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10038
(212) 732-5100
http://jewishwhistleblower.blogspot.com/2005/05/former-rabbinical-alliance-of-america.html
For more info see here.
Kolko's information disappeared from IAPPS, the NY courts website. I tried both his name & the docket number. I hope Twerski has nothing to do with this.
I found a reference to this case but I can't find the actual case:
CPLR 5511; Whiteman v Yeshiva & Mesivta Torah Temimah, 255 AD2d 378, 379 [1998]
And this:
Court: Kings Civil Supreme Index Number: 004107/1988 Upstate RJI Number:
Case Name: COHEN,YAAKOV vs. YESHIVA TORAH TEMIMAH
Case Type: Other Torts Negligence
Track: Unknown
Disposition Date: 01/18/1996
Date NOI Due: NOI Filed: 02/23/1995 Disposition Deadline: 05/26/1996
Calendar Number: 1988-004496T RJI Was Filed: 03/02/1988
Jury Status: Jury At Plaintiff's Request
Justice Name: IRVING S. ARONIN
Attorney/Firm For Plaintiff: STEVEN WEISSMAN Attorney Type: Attorney Of Record Status: Active
150 EAST 39TH STREET, STE 101
NEW YORK, NY 10016
212 697-7444
Attorney/Firm For Defendant:
ROBERT I ELAN Attorney Type: Attorney Of Record Status: Active
217 BROADWAY
NEW YORK, NY 10007
(212) 493 - 6300
http://ope.ed.gov/security/InstDetail.asp
Torah Temimah Talmudical Seminary
OPE ID: 02191600
General Information
507 Ocean Pky
Brooklyn, NY 11218
KINGS County
Security Officer Information
Security Officer: Rabbi Kleinman
Title:
Phone: 718-853-8500
555 OCEAN PKY
BROOKLYN, NY 11218
Residence Halls:
This institution provides On-Campus housing.
Residence halls statistics are a subset of On-Campus statistics.
http://ope.ed.gov/security/InstIdCrime.asp?CRITERIA=C
(This page has to be updated to reflect Kolko's & IY"H soon Margo's arrest)
Criminal Offenses - On Campus 2003 2004 2005
a. Murder/Non-negligent manslaughter 0 0 0
b. Negligent manslaughter 0 0 0
c. Sex offenses - Forcible 0 0 0
d. Sex offenses - Non-forcible (incest and statutory rape only) 0 0 0
Margo is suing the insurance carrier. Maybe he got dropped after they found out Kolko was still hanging around the camp. I wonder if UOJ or someone tipped them off.
Court: New York Civil Supreme Index Number: 107060/2006 Upstate RJI Number:
Case Name: SILVER LAKE vs. HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN
Case Type: E-Other Torts
Track: Standard
Disposition Date:
Date NOI Due: 08/23/2007 NOI Filed: Disposition Deadline:
Calendar Number: RJI Was Filed: 08/23/2006
Jury Status:
Justice Name: JAMES, DEBRA A.
Attorney/Firm For Plaintiff: SHIRA WEINSTEIN ESQ./HOFFMAN POLLAND & FURMAN PLLC Attorney Type: Attorney Of Record Status: Active
220 EAST 42 STREET SUITE 435
NEW YORK, N.Y. 10017
(212) 338-0700
Scroll down to page 107
I hope YTT is above board here with the federal Perkins loans.
http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:7JW7P5uj4L4J:www.ifap.ed.gov/cbpmaterials/attachments/0203CONGRES2KSNC.PDF+%22Torah+Temimah+Talmudical%22&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=109
TORAH TEMIMAH TALMUDICAL SEMINARY FSEOG $7,147 9 507 OCEAN PARKWAYFWS $41,084 31
Can someone provide proof that Kolko was indicted? A criminal conviction coupled with a Margo-Applecrud conspiracy will void YTT's insurance coverage. Count everyone in for UOJ's luxury condos. No one from the old YTT-Baathist regime is allowed in.
I do not know what everyone is accomplishing by looking up every obscure lawsuit related to YTT & Kolko, but since someone asked about it, here it is. Hope this helps.
Whiteman v. Temimah
255 A.D.2d 378, 679 N.Y.S.2d 708
N.Y.A.D.,1998.
Nov 09, 1998 (Approx. 1 page)
Julian Whiteman, Plaintiff,
v.
Yeshiva and Mesivta Torah Temimah et al., Appellants, General Accident
Insurance Company, Respondent, et al., Defendants.
Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second Department, New York
(November 9, 1998)
CITE TITLE AS: Whiteman v Yeshiva & Mesivta Torah Temimah
In an action for a judgment declaring that the defendant General Accident Insurance Company is obligated to defend and indemnify the defendants Yeshiva and Mesivta Torah Temimah, Yeshiva Torah Vodaath of Flatbush, Inc., and Yeshiva Torah Temimah in a personal injury action commenced against them by the plaintiff, the defendants Yeshiva and Mesivta Torah Temimah, Yeshiva Torah Vodaath of Flatbush, Inc., and Yeshiva Torah Temimah appeal, as limited by their brief, from so much of an order of the Supreme Court, Kings County (Kramer, J.), dated November 25, 1997, as, upon granting the plaintiff's motion for leave to renew, adhered to the prior determination granting General Accident Insurance Company's motion for summary judgment declaring that it was not obligated to defend and indemnify them in the underlying action.
Ordered that the appeal is dismissed, without costs or disbursements.
The appellants did not oppose General Accident Insurance Company's original motion for summary judgment, nor did they join in or submit any papers in support of the renewed motion which resulted in the order appealed from. Consequently, they do not have standing as aggrieved parties to appeal (see, CPLR 5511; Mortgagee Affiliates Corp. v Jerder Realty Servs., 62 AD2d 591, 595, affd on other grounds 47 NY2d 796; Price v Erie County Bd. of Elections, 72 AD2d 969, 970; cf., Ciraolo v Melville Ct. Assocs., 221 AD2d 582; Voorhees v Babcock & Wilcox Corp., 150 AD2d 677). Even if they had standing to appeal, consideration of one of the issues they raise--the applicability of an insurance policy exclusion--would be precluded. The dismissal by decision and order of this Court dated March 19, 1998, of a prior appeal from an order dated April 24, 1997, for lack of prosecution bars review of that issue (see, Marmarou v Spartan Diner, 247 AD2d 593).
Sullivan, J. P., Altman, Krausman and Florio, JJ., concur.
Copr. (c) 2005, Randy A. Daniels, Secretary of State, State of New York.
N.Y.A.D.,1998.
Whiteman v Yeshiva & Mesivta Torah Temimah
The Julie Whiteman suit is relevant because he was seriously hurt and margo didnt seem to give a damn. What's interesting is that Margo hired about a half dozen law firms to defend him which was unusual. Among them were Efraim Wertenteil and the ambulance chasers over at Weitz & Luxenberg. Margo must have been impressed with their radio ads or better yet the television ads from the TVs that Hungarians hide inside custom cabinetry.
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